Maryland Residency Verification
All Maryland Residency Verification forms and supporting documentation must be received by the Office of Admissions before the start date of the term or session for which the student is requesting residency review.
Students should review the BCCC Academic Calendar for applicable term and session start dates.
How do I determine my residence status for in-state tuition?
The following statement reflects the College’s policy on residence as set by Baltimore City Community College in conformance with the Maryland Higher Education Commission General Regulations. All students are required to submit the BCCC Residency Verification Form and provide the required supporting documentation.
It is the student's responsibility to accurately report on their residency and notify the Admissions Office of any changes.
Please email your proof of residency documentation to residency@bccc.edu or bring your documents to the Office of Admissions in the Main Building Room 02.
All required documents must be received by the Office of Admissions before the start date of the term or session for which residency review is requested.
Requests received on or after the start date of the applicable term or session will be reviewed for a future term or session. Late submissions will not be accepted for the current term or session.
Students should allow approximately 3 to 5 weeks for review after a complete form, and all required supporting documentation have been received.
If additional information is needed, the Office of Admissions will contact the student.
Student Residency Types
- Maryland resident means a student who maintains his or her legal domicile in Maryland and has done so for a period of not less than three months before the date of his or her enrollment at the college. To be considered a Maryland resident for the purposes of this policy, the student shall possess the legal capacity under state and federal law to establish Maryland domicile or shall be a dependent of someone who may do so.
- Out-of-state student means a student who is not a Maryland resident or is a non-citizen who has failed to provide documentation of a visa or permanent resident status.
- Immigration status alone does not automatically determine Maryland residency. Students must have the legal capacity to establish Maryland domicile and provide the documentation required for their particular status.
Required Documentation
Students are required to complete the BCCC Residency Verification Form. The responsibility for providing documentation supporting a residency claim rest with the student. Examples of such documentation are given below:
- Valid Maryland driver’s license with local address specified (proof of address change may be required)
- Valid motor vehicle registration showing the local state or county address
- Valid mortgage statement or lease agreement showing ownership or rental of local living quarters (notarized letters of residency or mortgage statements for investment properties are unacceptable)
- Proof of Maryland State income taxes (must present a certified copy, which you can order here.
- Registration to vote in the state of Maryland.
- Proof of graduation from a Maryland high school within the academic year of enrollment at the College.
All identification and residency documentation must be current, valid, and unexpired at the time of review.
A foreign national admitted to the United States as a temporary student or on a non-immigrant visa may not be considered a resident.
Visa and Immigration Status
Certain nonimmigrant visa classifications may affect a student's eligibility to establish Maryland residency for tuition purposes.
Under current BCCC residency guidance, holders of the following visa categories do not qualify for in-state tuition based on Maryland domicile:
B, C, D, F, H-2, H-3, J, M, O-2, P, and Q
Students should identify their visa or immigration category on the BCCC Residency Verification Form.
Students with another visa or immigration classification should submit the applicable immigration documentation for review by the Office of Admissions.
For questions regarding visa categories or residency review, contact:
residency@bccc.edu
Exceptions
The Maryland DREAM Act allows undocumented immigrants who are high school graduates in the state of Maryland the opportunity to pay the in-state tuition rate at Baltimore City Community College.
Students must complete an Application and Affidavit for Non-Resident Tuition Exemption for Undocumented Students Under the Maryland Dream Act and meet certain criteria to receive the in-state tuition classification. It is the student’s responsibility to provide evidence of in-state or in-state residency.
Click here for eligibility requirements and more information.
Active-Duty Military Personnel, Veterans, and their Dependents
Active duty military personnel, dependents of active duty military personnel, and members of the National Guard who have a domicile in Maryland at the time of entrance into the armed forces and are stationed outside of the state of Maryland or active duty personnel, their dependents, and members of the National Guard stationed in Maryland who did not have a domicile in Maryland at the time of entrance into the armed forces are eligible for in-county or in-state residency for tuition purposes.
Active duty military personnel and veterans, their dependents, or other individuals who meet one of the residency exceptions are still responsible for reporting their eligibility to the VA Coordinator by the published deadlines. Failure to do so may result in out-of-county or out-of-state tuition charges.
Maryland Dream ACT
The Maryland DREAM Act provides eligible students who meet Maryland requirements with an exemption from the out-of-state tuition rate.
Students should review the BCCC Maryland DREAM Act information.
Students seeking the exemption must complete the BCCC DREAM Act Application and Affidavit Form and submit all required supporting documentation.
DREAM Act Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the tuition exemption, a student must meet applicable Maryland requirements, including:
- Attend a public or nonpublic secondary school in Maryland
- Graduate from a public or nonpublic secondary school in Maryland or receive the equivalent of a Maryland high school diploma
- Register as an entering student at a Maryland public institution of higher education no later than six years after graduating from a Maryland secondary school or receiving the equivalent of a Maryland high school diploma
- Provide documentation that the student or the students parent or legal guardian filed a Maryland income tax return annually for the two-year period before the academic year for which the tuition exemption is requested
- If the student is not a permanent resident, provide the required affidavit stating that the student will file an application to become a permanent resident within 30 days after becoming eligible to do so
- Provide proof of Selective Service registration when required
For additional information regarding Maryland DREAM Act requirements, students may review Maryland Education Article §15-106.8.
Annual DREAM Act Renewal
Students receiving a tuition exemption under the Maryland DREAM Act must maintain their eligibility each academic year.
BCCC requires students to complete the applicable annual residency renewal process and provide the required supporting documentation.
BCCC annual renewal deadline: July 15
Students should submit the required renewal documentation to: residency@bccc.edu
Failure to complete the annual renewal process by the BCCC deadline may affect the students tuition classification for the upcoming academic year.
Students whose residency is being reviewed based on DACA or another immigration classification should submit the documentation requested by the Office of Admissions.
Residency Appeals
Students who disagree with a residency classification may request an appeal.
Review the BCCC Residency Classification Appeal Process for eligibility, documentation requirements, deadlines, and instructions.
Questions regarding residency appeals may be directed to: residency@bccc.edu